Tonight will mark an impressive milestone for Alex Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom as the dynamic duo plays in their 1,000th NHL game for the Washington Capitals. They are the first set of Capitals teammates to play in 1,000 games together and the ninth set of teammates to accomplish this feat.
Only one active duo is still playing on the same team with 1,000 games under their belts which is Anze Kopitar and Dustin Brown of the Los Angeles Kings. Ovechkin has 1,095 points in his career while Backstrom is currently chasing 1,000 career points at 997, needing just three.
Backstrom told Tom Gulitti of NHL.com:
"“I think it will be fun when I’m there. Obviously, it’s one of the bigger milestones to have and I’ve been kind of looking forward to getting to it. It will be an honor when I’m doing it.”"
He would become the 93rd player in NHL history to score 1,000 points. He would also be the sixth Swedish born player and the second player to do it with the Capitals. You can pretty much figure out who the first player was.
Backstrom has assisted on 274 of Ovechkin’s career goals which is 35.9 percent while Ovechkin has assisted on 106 of Backstrom’s goals which is 40.5 percent. Backstrom has also assisted on 117 of Ovechkin’s NHL record 279 career power play goals which is 41.9 percent. They each recorded an assist in their first NHL game together back on Oct. 5, 2007 at the Atlanta Thrashers. The Capitals hold a 590-299-110 record with Ovechkin and Backstrom in the lineup.
For two players with opposite personalities, Ovechkin being outgoing and Backstrom being more quiet, they BOTH deserve recognition which is why tonight is an important milestone for the two of them. One is three away from 1,000 points. The other is three away from passing Jaromir Jagr for third place on the NHL’s all time goal scoring list.
Ovechkin added:
"“It’s cool. It’s not many players play together 1,000 games and it’s good for us, it’s good for the organization, good for the fans.”"
Backstrom and Ovechkin helped the Capitals reach the playoffs 13 of the last 14 years and helped the team to their first Stanley Cup in 2018. We are very fortunate as fans to be able to watch two players with two unique skillsets create opportunities for each other. Ovechkin and Backstrom aren’t who they are without the other.
Ovechkin and Backstrom are more than just teammates. They’re brothers for life. And that might be bad news for Ovechkin’s wife as one commercial indicated that Backstrom is always over for breakfast.